Britain’s legion of amateur satirists reacted with delight to comments by a “terrorism expert” on America’s Fox News channel who said many parts of the U.K., including its second city Birmingham, were Muslim-only areas.
Steve Emerson, who is described on his website as “one of the leading authorities on Islamic extremist networks,” made the announcement in a Jan. 10 interview with the channel on whether Europe was a safe place for non-Muslims.
“In Britain, it’s not just no-go zones, there are actual cities like Birmingham that are totally Muslim where non-Muslims just simply don’t go in,” Emerson said. “Parts of London, there are actually Muslim religious police that actually beat and actually wound seriously anyone who doesn’t dress according to Muslim, religious Muslim attire.”
This came as a surprise to the 78 percent of Birmingham residents who don’t describe themselves as Muslim, and Emerson was quickly mocked on Twitter. People posted pictures of a Mecca Bingo venue as supposed evidence of Birmingham’s Islamic domination, with the hashtag “#foxnewsfacts”. Someone else claimed the city’s BT Tower was in fact the world’s tallest minaret.
Raheb Othmani, a Tunisian engineer, reworked the offer of support made to Muslims in Australia after a gunman took hostages in Sydney in December: “If you are a non-Muslim and would like to visit Birmingham #illridewithyou”
‘Complete Idiot’
Prime Minister David Cameron, whose Conservative Party held its annual conference in Birmingham last year, weighed in during a television interview today. “When I heard this I choked on my porridge and I thought it must be April Fool’s Day,” Cameron told ITV News. “This guy is clearly a complete idiot. He should actually look at Birmingham and see what a fantastic example it is of bringing people together.”
Emerson subsequently apologized for his remarks. “I have clearly made a terrible error for which I am deeply sorry,” he said in a statement on his website. “There was no excuse for making this mistake and I owe an apology to every resident of Birmingham. I am not going to make any excuses.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-1 ... cmpid=yhoo
It appears that I may have to find somewhere else to live, as apparently the city I currently reside in is no longer safe for non-Muslim citizens. You think they might have at least dropped a leaflet or something. "Hi, this is your friendly neighbourhood Jihadi, we're just calling to let you know that this city is now a Muslim only area. You are politely asked to leave the city within the next forty-eight hours, or else we will be forced to cut your head off. Thank you for your cooperation!"
It seems that, in response to the recent tragedy in France, Islamophobia is once again in vogue here in the Western World. I find it deeply concerning- if not surprising- that Fox News, a major news channel in the United States, is peddling this sort of hysteria over Islam to its citizens. The last thing we need in the wake of events like this is to drive a further wedge between Muslim and non-Muslim citizens in Western countries, and yet that is exactly what the media seems intent on doing. It's cynical exploitation of people's fear to increase ratings and I hate it, but it seems to be par for course in the US- at least here in the UK, the fearmongering and dodgy journalism is mostly confined to the newspapers. Mostly.
Speaking of which, it somewhat offends me that an American, on an American news channel, is presenting the city of Birmingham (as well as areas of London and other parts of the UK by implication) as some sort of ethnic ghetto where it's not safe to walk the streets at night. Well, okay, so there's some truth in that, but after the recent race-related riots in America that we've all seen on the news it's hilariously hypocritical for an American to present the United Kingdom as some sort of wartorn nation divided by ethnic struggles. We're doing just fine, thanks, Steve. Perhaps you should think about getting your own house in order before criticising others.
So, NSG, what do we think? Should the US government regulate what can be said on screen by purported "news" channels more strictly, or is it important to allow freedom of speech even when it's blatant fearmongering lies presented as an expert's opinion? Is the UK and the rest of Europe heading towards the scenario outlined by Mr Emerson? Is now the time to panic, or do we need to just keep calm and carry on?
Also, now I get why you all call it "Faux News."
EDIT: Additional sources for the sceptical:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30773297
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/j ... am-muslims
